As landing craft stream toward the Asan shore, other amphibious tractors have already reached the beach. At top of photo, on right, destroyers are maneuvering offshore to provide covering fire for the men of the 3rd Marine Division.###
STALLED AT CHORITO CLIFF
To the east at Asan, Japanese troops emerged from their caves to take gun positions on Chorito (misnamed Chonito in 1944) Cliff. From their positions they fired down on the 3d Marines as they landed ashore. They waited and watched as American troops advanced on the steep, difficult terrain below Chorito.
To the east at Asan, Japanese troops emerged from their caves to take gun positions on Chorito (misnamed Chonito in 1944) Cliff. From their positions they fired down on the 3d Marines as they landed ashore. They waited and watched as American troops advanced on the steep, difficult terrain below Chorito.
"Nearly half my old company lies dead on the barren slopes of Chonito Cliff. Four times they tried to reach the top. Four times they were thrown back. They had to break out of a 20-yard beach head to make way for later landing waves. They attacked up a 60-degree slope, protected only by sword grass, and were met by a storm of grenades and heavy rifle, machine-gun and mortar fire.
"The physical act of forward motion required the use of both hands. As a consequence they were unable to return the enemy fire effectively. Most of the casualties were at the bottom of the slope. They had been hit as they left cover." . . . Sgt. Cyril O'Brien, 3rd Marine Division
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